Gas-producer.



No 829,541. PATBNTBD AUG. 28, 1906. J. G. NASH. GAS PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. e, 1904.

' use of scrubbers and purifiers ma be obvitain 1m rovements in t comes incandescent, and

JOSEPH GEORGE NASIL OF ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUST.

GAS-PRODUCER- Specification of Letters Patent Iatented. Aug. 28, 1906.

Application as Boptember 0,1904. Serial No. 223.511.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn GEORGE Nasn, engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Hindmarsh S uare, Adelaide, in the State of South Austra ia, in the Commonwealth of Australia, have in vented certain new and useful Im rovements in Gas-Producers, of which the ollowin is a s ecification.

he 0 ject of my present invention is to rovide a gas-producer for the generation 0m bituminous coal of a gas free from tar and other impurities, whereby the extensive ated and a gas obtained particular y adapted for motive-power purposes with ex losiveen es. I accomplish this object y provi ing certain improvements in the combination and arrangement of parts constituting a gas-producer, and more articularly by cere feed device, by which t 'e solid fuel is fed to the producerchambers, as hereinafter described, and illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1.is a side sectional elevation of a gas-producer plant embodying my invention,

certain parts and connections being shown diagranunaticallyfor the convenience of illustration; and Fig. 2 is a detail view of the ratchet device for operating portions of the feeding mechanism. ,Though my invention is herein shown and described as relating to a double gas-producer in which two chambers are provided, connected together by means of a flue, it will be well understood that it is equally applicable to what are known as single producers,having one chamber only.

- A is the first chamber, constructed in the ordinary way and lined with fire-bricks A or other refractor material. This chamber A is provided wit a grate A a well A, and inlets A for the introduction of an air-blast. The chamber A communicates with a second chamber B b means ofa horizontal fluev B. This second chamber B is also lined with firebricks 'B or other refractory material. The chamber A is ada ted to maintain a column'of solid fuel which when fired beinto this incandescent body the bituminous coal is fed, preferably in a small or The coal coming into the body of incandescent coke is split u into its constituent gases, a'ndowhem two p mbers are provided, as shown in the drawings, the said gas is. passed semipowdered condition.

out through the column of coke arranged in the second chamber B, This chamber is also rovided near its base with a grate B whic sup orts a bod of fuel fed into the chamber. t rough. a we l-lrnown form of hopper B at the top. This chamber is not an essential element to the the chamber A may alone be used. Its lune-- tion, however, consists in its arran enient with the first chamber, whereby the eat of combustion from the first chamber is transported to the column of fuel in the second chamber through the 'fluc B by means of the air-blast A. The hopper B will soiliciently close the top of the chamber B to cause a draft down through the grate B" and will keep the fuel, after once being ignited, in the second chamber in a state of incandescence. Thus the hydrocarbon gases generated in the first chamber are caused to pass through this incandescent body of fuel and are thereby enriched with carbon moncxid and hydrogen, producin a good serviceable gas particularly applicable to motive-power purposes. The top of the chamber A is pro vided with a casting which contains in one and the same piece an improved feed device and a mounting for a poking-rod, as hereinafter described. This casting consists of a central casin C, (preferably conimitshaped, as shown,) w llie. delivers into the open top of the chamber A.

The feedingdevice consists of a hop ier C, having a conveyor-screw G which discharges through openin s C in the side of the central casing C. In t is way a continuous stream of solid fuel may be continuously fed into the chamber A throu h the said casing C. The conveyer-screws device, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. This ratchet device consists of a ratchetwheel D, mounted upon the shai t C. An arm D is provided upon theshalt C", as shown in Fig. 2, having a pawl D" engaging the ratchet-wheel D. The arm D" is slotted at I), having a in held in place by a sct--scrcw or nut, b WllCh its position may be rogulated an by which the connecting-rm! l. for imparting the reciprocatin motion may be caused to impart any lengt of stroke ulred and the speed of the con veyer-screws adjust'ed accordingly, with OOITHSFOIHllHg adjustment of the rate of feed of the uol. At the same time the casting at the top of the reducer-chamber is provided with an adds 'onal hopper C, through which thensolrd present invention, as

fuel (in most cases cke)-is fed for establishing within the producer-chamber the incandescent body. The automatic feed discharging through the central casing C at the top of the chamber may be adapted for continuously feeding in a small quantity of coke by which the incandescent body may be always maintained at a proper heat. any necessary bituminous coal may be fed in through this casing C with or without coke.

For the purpose of providing means whereby thefuel when it becomes caked may be operated with a oking-rod without opening or interfering wit the feeding devices Iprovide a special construction of bearing for the said poking-rod. Thus the casing U at the top'of the chamber A is provided with a oking-rod E, mounted within a ball E,woring in a socket E, as shown in the drawings. It will thus be seen that the body of incandescent fuel within the chamber A may be at any time broken and prevented from cakinlg, thereby allowing of any'powdered coal wor ing down through the interstices thereof; with an additional generation of as, the ball-andsoclcet joint allowing of a need not be at any time interru ted.

I have found in practice that if the bituminous coal is delivered immediately into that portion of the producer-chamber wherethe temperature is comparatively hi hthat is to say, into the center of the ha y of incandescent fuelthe tar and other solid prodnets are burnt and split up into gases, with a conse uent increase in the quantity of gas obtains and a minimum formation of tar and other solid impurities. For this purpose I provide means for feeding the coal or other like fuel through the side of the producer-chamber into a body of incandescent fuel at a point a short distance above the grate A and at the zone of highest temperature.

In practice any number and. description of feeding devices may be ado ted, according to the size of the producer-c amber and convenience in operation. Furthermore, this arrangement 0 feeding devices may alsobe utilized, as hereinafter described, for the purpose of forming coke for use in the producercharnber for building up and maintaining the body of incandescent fuel. For this purpose I rovide a feeding device arranged upon the side of the producer-chamber A. This feeding device consists of a c linder F arranged upon the side of the cham or A and discharging into the interior thereof at a short distance above the grate and at about the point which forms the zone of highest tem erature on too body of incandescent fuel. a his 0 linder F is provided with a tra -door or va ve F at its entrance to the chain or A, operated by a screw-rod F or other convenient means. At the top of the cylinder F is arranged .a

Furthermore,

ee 0 eration of the rod E, while the continuous eed of fuel hopper G, having a poking-rod G, mounted in a ball-and socket joint G? Within the cover G. This h'op er may, necessary, be also provided wit an automatic and continuous-feed device consistin of a conveyerscrew H, mounted on a shaft II and working in a cylindrical casing H, having a hopper H, and actuated by a ratchet-operating device similar to that actuating the conveyorscrew C, arranged at the top of the producerchamber and as shown more particularly in ithin the cylinder F works a hollow piston or lunger J, having a reci rocating or forward movement, actuated y any convenient means for the purpose of feeding forward the coal or other fuel. The piston or plunger J is provided with a okin -rod J, mounted in a balland socket an having at its inner end a plate J", which fits upon the inner end of the hollow piston J. The piston or plunger J has a reciprocating movement, imparted by any mechanical means, such as a rack or screwor by an eccentric or cranked pin, as shown. For this urpose the piston or plunger J is provided with two downwardly-projecting-lugs K, between which works an eccentric K. Theend of the piston, or plunger J is thus adapted to move backward or forward beneath the opening of the hopper G, and thereby feeds forward the bituminous coal into the interior of the gencrater-chamber A. In operation the coal is fed inthrou-gh the hopper G into the cylinder F and is passed forward by means of the reciprocating piston or plunger J. In this way the coal is automatical y and continuously delivered into the center of the body of incandescent fuel within the chamber A at about the zone of highest tem erature. The coal being delivered into t 0 body of incandescent coke at this point, the tar and other elements which produce impurities are split up by the excess- We heat into constituent'gases, with consequent increase of the gas generated. At the same time the poking-rod J may be used for brealn'ng up the body of incandescent coke and admitting of the entrance thereto of the coal as fed in through the cylinder F. By

reference to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that the feeding device is shown arranged at a sh ht angle inclined upward for the purpose 0 'ving the coal an upward thrust as fed into '0 e interior of the chamber A; but it will be well understood that this feeding device may be arranged at any angle,

as may be most convenient in ractiee.

In combination with the ceding device arranged at theside of the generator chamher I also provide means for coking the coal at suitable intervals. For this purpose the cylinder F is provided with a downwardlyprojecting vent L, dischargin into a well of water, and preterably the we 1 A arranged at the bottom of the generator-chamber A. This discharge-vent L is provided with a trapdoor or valve L,operated by a screw L, b

which its entrance may be opened or close rec uired. Thus in practice a body of coal may e allowed to rest at the entrance of the cylinderF, and the valve or trap-door F be ing left open the heat and flames from the interior 0 said. coal. Atthe same time the gases arising therefrom are caused to pass up through the chamber-A and. the body of incand scent fuel therein, correspondingly enriching and increasing the amount of as generated. When the coal has been sufliciently coked, it may be discharged through the dischargvent L by opening the valve or trap-door The oking-rod G in the cover Gr of the hopper (i: may be used for the purpose. of assistmg in the delivery of the coke through the openin into the discharge vent L. The coke dlschar es through t e discharge-vent L into the we 1 of water and is thereby chilled while at the same time the steam generated therefrom passes u through the cylinder F into the interior 0 the chamber A. When the body of incandescent coke within the chamber A becomes depleted, the coke discharged through the vent L may be utilized for feedin into the interior of the chamberA through t is hopper 0 arranged at the top thereof. I-am thus enabled to manufacture the coke required for continually replenishing the cham ers and maintaining the proper height of the incandescent body Within the chambers.

The producer-chambers are provided with a deliveryqoipe for the withdrawal of the gas generated. In the plant, as shown, the second (,llflfi'lbfl' B is provided with a pipe M at the bottom, leading to the gasometer N. The delivery-pipe M is provided with an attachment which consists of a horizontal cylinder P, having a trap-door P, operated by a screw y means of this valve or trap-door P the cylinder P may be closed when the genera-' tion of the gas is proceeding under ordinary circumstances. At the outer end of the cylinder P is rovided a poking rod R, having a flat end I? v R, similar in construction to the poking-rod J before described. Thus by raising the valve or trapdoor P the be operated into the interior of the generating-chamber B and the solid and caked. roducts acc'umulating around the o ening there of and the bottom'of the disc ergo-pi e M ndbr P ma be raked forward into the cyli an thence discharged, and in this Way the pipe M maybe kept clean and an uninterof the gas to the gasometer This pipe M is also provided branch or supplementary pipe or flue Ihe supplementary flue S has a controlrupted delivery N maintained. with a the chamber A serve to coke the;

and working in a ball and socket l chain S poking-rod R may valve S, whereby such surplus gas is withdrawn and discharged and prevented from being delivered into the gasometer. In order to provide an automatic control of the producer accordin to the amount of gas generated, in addition to the automatic su ply of fuel, I provide means for regulati ng tide supply of air and the discharge of the gas accordin to the amount of gas in the gasometer, 1%. In the accompanyin drawings a portion only of the gasometer 1% is shown. The dome N (or preferably counterweights N is connected, by means of a cord or chain N, to the valve A controlling the air-blast through the inlet A in such,manner that as the dome N rises the valve A partially cuts oil the supply of air to the blast through the inlet A. At the same time a further cord or connectsto the valve S upon the supplementary flue S, which is provided for the purpose of drawing off the surplus gas generated. The operation of this valve S is opposite to that of the valve A"-that is to say, the risin of the dome N" serves to open the valve S t irough the medium of the cord or chain S In this way the surplus gas generated is drawn off through the supplementary flue S and discharged, and thereby prevented from passing into the gasometer N. I have found in practice that by regulating the cords or chain N and S with the inlet A and the valve S, so as to permit of a small continuous circulation of air through the valve .A and gas through S, a uniform quality of gas may be automatically obtained, and for this purpose, therefore, so ar ran e the regulation of the cords or valves that thelatter may not be entirely closed with the operation of the dome. When upon the gas eing withdrawn the dome N descends, the valves A and S are opened and closed, respectively, (by springs or other convenient means,) and the generation of gas thus automatically controlled.

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent i .1. In a with a producer-chamber comprising a cylinder, a hopper disc arging into the latter, a hollow plunger adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder, and a poker mounted in the plun er. g

2. In a as pro user, the combination with a pro ucer-chamber, of a feedin device comprising a cylinder, a hopper disc arging into the latter, a hollow plunger mounted in the cylinder plunger, a po or gas producer, the combination mounted in the latter, and a plate carried by the poker adapted to cover the end of the plunger.

In a as producer, the combination with a pro ucer-chamber, of a feedin device comprising a cylinder, a hopper disc arging Having thus described my invention, I

of a feedingldevice means to reciprocate said- IIO into the latter, a vent communicating with said cylinder, a hollow plunger mounted in the latter, means to reci ocate said pl er, a poker in the latter and a late 11101111325011 the end of the poker adapte to'close one end of the plunger.

4. In a gas producer, the combination with a producer-chamber, of a feedi device comprising a cylinder entering said 0 amber at a point a short distance above the zone of .highest temperature, a hopper discharging into the cylinder, a valve in the latter between the hopper and chamber, a vent in the cylinder beneath the hopper, a valve in said vent, a hollow plunger reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a pokerin the latter, and a plate mounted on the poker adapted to close the plunger.

5. In a gas producer, the combination with a producer-chamber, of a feeding device arranged at the side of said chamber at the zone of highest temperature comprising a cylinder opening into said chamber, a hopper discharging into the cylinder, a conveyer for feedin said hopper, a poker in the latter, a valve in the cylinder between the hopper and' chamber, a plunger mounted in said cylinder, means for reci rocating said plunger, and a poker mounte in the latter.

6. In a gas producer, the combination with a feeding device arranged upon the side of the producer-chamber, discharging into the same at the zone of highest temperature, of a coking attachment communicating with said feeding device, and'a well for the reception of coke from said attachment.

7. In a as producer, the combination with a pro near-chamber of af'eed cylinder communicating with 'sai chamber, a well, and a vent connectin said cylinder and well.

8. In "a as pro ucer, the combination with a pro ulcer-chamber, of a feed-cylinder communicating with said chamber, a well, a vent connecting said cylinder and well, a valve in said vent anda valve in the cylinder between the ventandchamber.

9. In a gas-producer the combination of a producer-chamber, a iced-hopper discharging into the top thereof a okerin said he per, a feed-cylinder isc arging into: t 0 side of the chamber, a valve in the cylinder, a

hopper discharging into the'cylinder', a convever for sup ying the last-named 110 per, a pokerfor the atter, a plunger-in the cy nder, a poker for the plunger, meansforremprocating the plunger, and a valved coking-vent communicating with the cylinder.

' 10. In a gasproducer, the combination of a producer-chamber, a delivery-pipe therefor, a supplementary wflue communicating with the deliveryipe, a separate chamber communicating wit the latter, and a sore er in said chamber adapted to clean the de ivwith a producer-chamber, a generator and a delivery-pipe connecting the two, of an airblast communicating with the chamber, a supplementary flue lea in from the delivery-(pipe, a valve in the supp emen tary lpipe an 1n the air-blast, and means to simu taneously operate said valves.

13. In a gas-producer, the combination with a producer-chamber, a gasometer and a delivery-pipe connecting the two, of an airblast communicating with the reducerchamber, a supplementary flue lea ing from the delivery-plpe, a normally closed valve in the supplementary pipe, a normally opened valve in the air-blast, and means connecting the valves with the movable member of the gasometer, whereby said valves are simultaneously opened and closed.

14. In a gas-producer, the. combination with a producer-chamber, a gasometer and a delivery-pipe connecting the two, of an airblast communicating with the roducerchamber, a supplementary flue lea 'ng from the delivery-pipe, a normally closed valve in the supplementary pipe, a normally opened valve in the air-b ast, chains connecting the valves with the movable member of the gasometer and a weight suspended on said chains to control the OPBltltlOIl of the valves on the movement of sand movable member.

,Intestimony whereof have hereunto-set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH GEORGE NASH. Witnesses:

CHARLES STANLEY BURGESS, 'Am'nmz Wnrramem' Bowen.

roducer- 

